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Sponsor asks committee to require local residency for Montana bail agents; insurance regulators and agents raise reciprocity concerns
Summary
HB 726 would require surety bail producers to be Montana residents to improve accountability and local supervision; proponents said out‑of‑state operators erode local accountability, while insurance groups urged removing the residency provision to preserve reciprocity and raise legal questions.
Representative Nellie Nicholl also sponsored House Bill 726, a companion measure intended to ensure Montana bail agents are locally based and accountable for defendants they bond out.
Proponents — including local bail agents and the Montana Bail Agents Association — argued residency requirements prevent out‑of‑state businesses from operating as remote brokers that write bonds without local supervision. Witnesses said local agents provide face‑to‑face interviews, vet defendants, coordinate with families…
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